Susan
This was just a fun and purely escapist summer read—the kind of book that practically demands sunscreen smudges on its pages. Childhood rivals turned reality-TV “Showmance” lovers? Absolutely. This is the best kind of ‘90s Lifetime made-for-cable rom-com energy: heartfelt, hilarious, and comfortingly over-the-top in all the right ways.
The premise is rock solid, the writing is immediate, and Alice’s voice pulled me in from the start. Her life felt relatable—student debt? Check. Caregiving for a parent while navigating hospitals, emotions, and uncertainty? Big check. Getting dumped on national TV and then fake-dating your childhood nemesis for a million-dollar prize? Okay, maybe no check there—but it was wildly entertaining.
And the chemistry? 🔥 Alice and Daniel own every scene they share. Their banter feels alive, electric with history and friction, and you can’t help but root for them even when they’re trying to out-snark each other. Their romance is framed beautifully by a soft undercurrent of mystery—just enough intrigue to keep the pages flying and your heart engaged.
I also adored the inter-chapter notes from the show—the snippets from crew members and producers add clever texture, expanding the world while giving voice to the spectacle around the central couple. It’s smart, playful, and deepens the emotional stakes of the reality show chaos.
Here’s the thing: Alice Chen’s Reality Check isn’t here to rewrite your worldview—it’s here to hand you a fruity cocktail, throw some shade (the beach kind and the bantery kind), and let you root for a romance that knows exactly what it is. Breezy, bright, and unapologetically fun.
If you’re in the mood for something that goes down easy but sparkles with personality—something that lets you devour a hundred pages in one sitting while grinning at the page—this is it. This book has a fresh, infectious voice, and I loved the energy in every word. Kara Loo & Jennifer Young have coined “Showmance,” and I think I’m hooked.
Thank You NetGalley and Quirk Books for this fun read.
This was just a fun and purely escapist summer read—the kind of book that practically demands sunscreen smudges on its pages. Childhood rivals turned reality-TV “Showmance” lovers? Absolutely. This is the best kind of ‘90s Lifetime made-for-cable rom-com energy: heartfelt, hilarious, and comfortingly over-the-top in all the right ways.
The premise is rock solid, the writing is immediate, and Alice’s voice pulled me in from the start. Her life felt relatable—student debt? Check. Caregiving for a parent while navigating hospitals, emotions, and uncertainty? Big check. Getting dumped on national TV and then fake-dating your childhood nemesis for a million-dollar prize? Okay, maybe no check there—but it was wildly entertaining.
And the chemistry? 🔥 Alice and Daniel own every scene they share. Their banter feels alive, electric with history and friction, and you can’t help but root for them even when they’re trying to out-snark each other. Their romance is framed beautifully by a soft undercurrent of mystery—just enough intrigue to keep the pages flying and your heart engaged.
I also adored the inter-chapter notes from the show—the snippets from crew members and producers add clever texture, expanding the world while giving voice to the spectacle around the central couple. It’s smart, playful, and deepens the emotional stakes of the reality show chaos.
Here’s the thing: Alice Chen’s Reality Check isn’t here to rewrite your worldview—it’s here to hand you a fruity cocktail, throw some shade (the beach kind and the bantery kind), and let you root for a romance that knows exactly what it is. Breezy, bright, and unapologetically fun.
If you’re in the mood for something that goes down easy but sparkles with personality—something that lets you devour a hundred pages in one sitting while grinning at the page—this is it. This book has a fresh, infectious voice, and I loved the energy in every word. Kara Loo & Jennifer Young have coined “Showmance,” and I think I’m hooked.
Thank You NetGalley and Quirk Books for this fun read.